Alex Pearce

 

{Profile Posted 31/05/13}







Date of Birth: - 09/11/1988

Height: - 1.88m

Position: - CB

Nationality: - English

Current Club: - Reading

Estimated Market Value: - £3 million.

Linked with: - Liverpool, Norwich.









Club Statistics





Northampton Town (Loan)



2006/2007 season - 15 matches, 1 goal and no assists.





AFC Bournemouth (Loan)



2007/2008 season - 11 matches, no goals and no assists.





Norwich (Loan)



2007/2008 season - 11 matches, no goals and no assists.





Southampton (Loan)



2008/2009 season - 8 matches, 2 goals and no assists.





Reading



2006/2007 season - 1 match, no goals and no assists.

2007/2008 season - 3 matches, no goals and no assists.

2008/2009 season - 21 matches, 2 goals and 1 assist.

2009/2010 season - 28 matches, 4 goals and no assists.

2010/2011 season - 24 matches, 1 goal and 1 assist.

2011/2012 season - 47 matches, 5 goals and 2 assists.

2012/2013 season - 19 matches, no goals and 1 assist.

TOTAL - 143 matches, 12 goals and 5 assists.







International Statistics





Scotland U19



2006/2007 season- 1 match, no goals and no assists.





Ireland



2012/2013 season - 1 match, 1 goal and no assists.









General Comments:





I think this is a profile that a lot of people have wanted, especially with the new pictures out today of Ayre with Pearce in London. Whether they're new, old, or whatever, I don't know - I will talk about Pearce's future in the transfer box. Anyway, this second profile of the day is curtsy of Ed029. He is a new Ed, and is a Reading supporter, and since Pearce is a product of the Reading academy, who better to grill than a Reading fan? So, everything in this report is from Ed029, so send your thanks over to him.





Anyway, let me start with the positives. He is a very brave player, and will often go into tackles and such like where other players would not. He really is a brave player who will lay it all on the line to do well for his team.

He is also a very solid player when it comes to the tackle, so wouldn't be too much of a weakness there. And, if you've looked at his stats, he either scores or makes a goal every 8 matches. This is because he is a very good player in the air, due to his strength (which is used to great advantage in defending and tackling) and height. So he is good at defending in his own box, and also a good attacking player when there are dead ball situations near opponent's penalty area too.



However, he is nothing more than a solid, decent defender, with his main weakness being his pace. He is a very slow player which means that he will never be that top class defender. He can easily lose his man, or they can simply run away from him. Also, because of this lack of pace, opposition players can really easily turn him, and get away from him. Imagine Luis against him then, hey!!



Anyway, Rodgers is a known fan of Pearce, having made him captain in his short tenure at reading, and also saying that he could be the next John Terry. However, Ed029 having watched him all these years does not think that he will ever be the quality needed for a top team, and he certainly won't be the next Terry. And the reason he will not become a good player is because of his pace. He is just too slow against the best and quickest attackers. He has all the makings of a good defender, but speed lets him down.









Would Pearce cut it at Liverpool?



Despite giving you a rather downbeat profile of the player, I actually think as a 4th defender, that Pearce could be a shrewd signing for Liverpool. Ed029 say he would be good for a mid-table team (and suggested Everton - maybe a secret Liverpool fan at heart....). And no, I dont want Liverpool to be buying mid table quality players. But Pearce brings strength, toughness, height and bravery. SO, if used correctly, against such times as Stoke or West Ham - teams who hoof it and dont have much pace in their front line, I think he could help us to deal with these teams we have previously struggled against in the past. Let's take the Oldham match for example, and I think that is one where Pearce would have dominated against the Oldham strikers, and we wouldn't have been troubled. Against Stoke, he could give them a taste of their own medicine and bully them and smash them about a bit. However, I would not, in any circumstances want Pearce to play against any team who tries to pass it, or who have a quick front line, because simply put, he would be beaten far too easily. A good player though, to have in defence against tough teams. Nothing more than a 4th defender.







Summary of Pearce:





Strengths: Strong, tall, brave, good in the tackle, good in the box.





Weaknesses: Stupidly slow, easily turned.







The Business End of the Profile:



So by now I am guessing most people have seen the pictures of Ayre and Pearce in London, right? Well, I dont know if they are correct or not, but what we do know is that Rodgers really likes Pearce, and that Pearce is on a free. I believe that there may be some interest in him, but a lot of the media will just put two and two together - he is free, worked with Rodgers before, Rodgers likes him and we need a CB. I dont really see this transfer happening, although I will try to find out more about the pictures and any more on rumours he may join.







Many thanks,



And remember to thank Ed029 for all the information and qualities of the player!!





{A profile by Ed052}